"I've been here 10 years and I think 10 years is enough for me," Boyd said.

He said he had no immediate plans, and while he is willing to stay into October, "that will be up to the new commissioner." Shively, who resigned in July to spend more time with his family, is stepping down effective Sept. 8.

Boyd has been director since May of 1995. He joined the division as deputy director in July of 1990 and became acting director in early 1995. Boyd's background is in geophysics and he came to Alaska in 1978 as district geophysicist for Marathon Oil Co.